Electrical switch



April 23, 1940.

Filed Aug. 4, 195a R. G. GOODYEAR 2.198.336

ELECTRICAL SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet X 1 N VENTOR.

filerf iaaafye ar,

ATTORNEY.

Filed Aug. 4, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. a) 6 ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in electrical switches; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a. novel switch mechanism which is especially adapted for use in connection with high voltage electrical power transmission systems, and in out door locations where exposed to the elements.

This invention has for one object to provide a novel electrical switch mechanism including a stationary contact means and a movable contact means, the latter being mounted in such novel manner as to be capable of compound movements in .opening and closing operations thereof, whereby the movable contact means moves rectilinearly into and out of engagement with the stationary contact means, but when disengaged therefrom is caused to swing into and out of alignment therewith; these movements being automatically controlled and produced through the operation of a single motion actuating means.

This invention has for another object to provide a switch mechanism of the kind described, the structure of which is of such novel character as to avoid all necessity for loose connective current bridging elements, pig-tails, and the like, thus avoiding undue resistance to current flow and likelihood of accidental interruption of current flow by reason of connection breakage or like causes.

This invention has for another object to provide, in an electrical switch mechanism of the above mentioned character, a novel construction of stationary contact means adapted to so cooperate with the movable contact means as to exert a considerable compressive force thereupon, thereby to so firmly press contacts against each other as to lower their contact resistance to a minimum.

The invention has for a further object to provide, in an electrical switch mechanism of the above mentioned character, novel means for enclosing certain operative parts thereof so as to most efliciently guard the same against exposure to rain, snow, ice, dust, etc., thus protecting the same against being choked with consequent interference or possible total prevention of operative movements thereof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with parts in secenlarged scale, of the stationary and movable contact means of the switch shown in closed condition, parts being shown in section; and Fig. 5 is a similar view with the contact means in initiatory open condition.

Fig. 6 is a detail transverse vertical section,

taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is another detail transverse vertical section; taken on line 1-4 in Fig. 4; and Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the movable contact means as swung up to fully open position, one of the cover or guard plates being removed to disclose the internal parts of the switch arm mounting.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character ll) indicates a suitable base upon which the switch mechanism is mounted. Upstanding from the base In is a standard or pedestal I l to the upper end of which is afixed a stationary contact means support l2. This support l2 constitutes an insulator, being made of a suitable insulating material such as porcelain, glass, or the like. The stationary contact means comprises a bracket I3, the base ll of which is suitably fastened to the top end of said insulating support l2. Suitably affixed to a face of said bracket I3 is a yoke-member l5 provided with projecting vertically spaced horizontal arms l6, having, adjacent to their free ends, outwardly and laterally extending notched bearing portions ll. Suitably afiixed to the sides of said bracket I3, to project therefrom, are laminate conductor leaves I 8, to the free ends of which are secured inwardly and laterally extending notched bearing portions l9, disposed to lie intermediate and in vertically aligned relation and opposition to said bearing portions I1 of yoke member l5. Rotatively supported by the respective sets of cooperative bearing portions l1 and I9 are the vertical journal portions 20 of a pair of opposed contact cams 2i. Said conductor leaves l8 are preferably made of copper or like metal of good electrical conductivity, and, as secured by one end, are somewhat yieldably flexible. Amxed to the sides of said bracket l3, with and to overlie the exterior faces of said conductor leaves It and the bearing portions 19 carried at the free ends thereof, are laminate spring members 22 adapted to exert yielding inward thrusting pressure upon said bearing members l9, thereby to yieldingly thrust said contact rolls 2| one toward the other. Said contact cams are provided, around and coincident to a portion of their peripheries with contact flanges 23 to operatively engage the contact blade of the movable contact means to be presently described. Preferably said contact cams are cut away along a portion of the peripheries, as at 24, to provide clearance space therebetween, when occupying normal initial positions, to allow free and unimpeded initial entering movement of said movable contact blade therebetween. At least one of said contact cams is provided with a more or less radially projecting finger 25 extending from its periphery to lie in the path of movement of and so as to be engaged by the entering contact blade of the movable contact means, thereby to initiate the operative rotative movement of the contact cams 2|. If desired, spring means may be provided operative to return said contact cams 2| to normal initial positions upon withdrawal of the contact blade of the movable contact means therefrom. Preferably such means comprises helical spring elements 26, each having one end thereof suitably aflixed or anchored to an arm of the yoke member l5, and the other end thereof affixed to a contact cam journal portion 20. Said springs are so related to the contact cams as to wind into a tensioned condition when the cams are rotated by the entering contact blade of the movable contact means, and so that the tension thus stored therein will reversely rotate the cams to normal initial positions after the contact blade is withdrawn therefrom. Secured to a supporting boss 21 carried by the upper arm of said yoke member 5 is a casing 28 adapted to enclose the described stationary contact means, so as to guard and protect the same from exposure to the elements. Said casing 28 .is provided, in the wall thereof which is adjacent to said contact cams 2|, with a vertical slot-like opening 29 to admit the contact blade of the movable contact means for operative engagement with said stationary contact means. Suitably connected with and projecting from said bracket I3 is a terminal lug or tongue 3|! for connecting to the stationary contact means a conductor of the circuit or line served by the switch.

Upstanding from the base III is another standard or pedestal 3| to the upper end of which is affixed a movable contact means support 32, which also constitutes an insulator; being likewise made of a, suitable insulating matrial such as porcelain, glass, or the like. The movable contact means comprises a pair of longitudinally parallel upstanding bracket elements 33, the common base 34 of which is suitably fastened to the top end of said insulating support 32. Carried at the upper end of each bracket element 33 are the combined guide and fulcrum blocks 35 for mounting the movable contact means per se. In relative disposition, said blocks 35 are laterally spaced apart in longitudinal parallel relation. Each block 35 is provided with a countersunk outwardly open elongated fulcruming bearing chamber 36. Also provided in each block 35, in longitudinal axial alignment with the bearing chamber 36 thereof, is a key-way or slot 31 which terminates at its rearward end in a clearance opening 38 adapted to permit rotation of a key element when the same is withdrawn from said key-way or slot. Provided at a juncture of said clearance opening 38 with said key-way or slot 31 is a stop shoulder 38 engageable by a key element to limit the rotative movement thereof. The

movable contact means per se comprises, a butt member 40, the rear end portion of which is preferably bifurcated to provide legs 4| respectively contiguous to the inner faces of said blocks 35. Afllxed to and extending longitudinally from the forward end of said butt member 40 is a switch arm 42 which terminates at its free end in a flattened contact blade 43. Suitably secured to the free end portions of said butt member legs 4 I, to project laterally from the outer faces thereof, are trunnion disks 44 which respectively operatively engage in the bearing chamber 36 of the contiguous block 35. Also secured to and between each butt member leg and its associated trunnion disk 44 is an elongated key member 45 of a width to slidingly engage and ride in the key-way or slot 31 of corresponding block 35, said key members 45 being longitudinally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said switch arm 42.

Means are provided for covering the inner and outer faces of said blocks 35 so as to prevent access of dirt, rain, snow, ice, etc. into the interior of said chambers and key-ways thereof with risk of choking up the same so as to either unduly impede or entirely interrupt the operative movements of the trunnion disks 44 and key members 45 therein. Said covering means is of such novel structure and so cooperatively arranged relative to the elements of the movable contact means, as to in no way interfere with the operative movements thereof. Said covering means includes outer cover plates 46 having peripheral flanges 41 to telescopically engage over the peripheries of the blocks 35 so that said cover-plates close the outwardly open sides of said bearing chambers 36. Said cover plates 46 may be affixed to said blocks 35 by any suitable means or in any suitable manner. Said cover means further includes inner cover plates 48 also having peripheral flanges 48 to embrace the blocks 35. The inner cover plates 48 exceed the length of said blocks 35. by a distance equivalent to the distance of the longitudinal reciprocable movement of the butt member 40 relative to said blocks 35, and the same are arranged to move longitudinally with said butt member 4|) relative to said blocks 35. Secured'to said butt members 40, in axial alignment with the trunnion disks 44 and intermediate the key members 45 and the contiguous sides of said butt member legs 4| are circular journal disks 50 which engage in corresponding circular openings provided in the face wall-of said inner cover plates, thus permitting the butt member to swing, at proper times relative to said cover plates as engaged with the blocks 35. It will be obvious that said inner cover plates close and maintain closed, at all positions of the butt member, the open key-way or slot 31.

The means for actuating the movable contact means, in one illustrative form thereof, comprises the following mechanism:

Rotatably supported in suitable bearing means 5|, which is mounted on the base I0, is a vertical spindle or shaft 52, upon the lower portion of which is aflixed a lever arm 53 for applying rotative power to said shaft. Suitably affixed to the upper end of said shaft 52, so as to turn therewith, is an insulator member 54 to the upper end of which is suitably aflixed a stud shaft 55 adapted to turn with the shaft 52 and insulator member 54. Affixed to said stud shaft 55 is an actuator lever 56. Pivotally connected with aioasse 3 nected to the forward free end oi said butt member 40 also by a suitably constructed universal joint 59. I

The reference character 8|) indicates a bifurcated conductor strut, the arms of which are secured to the base 34 of the supporting bracket elements 33 of the movable contact means. Said conductor strut is provided with a hub portion 3| to engage said stud shaft 55, and extending outwardly from said hub portion'is a terminal lug or tongue 62 for connecting the said conductor strut to the line of a circuit served by the switch, so that the current may pass through said strut to or from the movable contact means, as the case may be.

In use the novel switch mechanism operates as follows:

Assuming the switch is in closed condition, as

shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, to open the same the operator causes an anti-clockwise rotative movement of the actuator shaft 52, which thereupon causes a swinging movement of the actuator lever 56 in like direction. The initial phase of such movement of the actuator lever 55, as transmitted through the link rod 53 to the butt member 40, first produces a rectilinear retractive movement of the latter between the blocks 35. Owing to the engagement of the key member 45 in the key-way or'slot 31, the butt member 40 is restrained against swinging movement, and consequently the butt member 40 and switch arm 42 are thereby restricted to longitudinal movement in a straight line. Such movement operates to longitudinally withdraw the contact blade 43 from its circuit closing engagement with and between the contact cams 2| of the stationary contact means, until said blade occupies the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 entirely free and clear of the casing 28. The rectilinear retractive movement of the butt member 40, switch arm 42 and contact blade 43, operates to move the trunnion disks 44 rearwardly through the bearing chambers 35 of the blocks 35 until the same are stopped by abutment against the rearward ends of said hearing chambers 35. At the same time the 'key members 45 are also withdrawn from the keyways or slots 31 and into the circular clearance openings 33, in which the same may rotate. Upon attainment of such positions of the parts, the continuing swinging movement of the actuator lever 55, as transmitted to the butt member 40 through the link rod 58, will cause an upswinging movement of said butt-member 43 about the trunnion disks 44 as fulcrums (as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3), thus causing correspond ing upswing of the switch arm 42 and its blade 43 to full switch opening position (see Fig. 8).

The upswinging movement of the butt member and associate parts is limited by engagement of the rotated key-member 45 with the stop shoulder 39 provided in connection with the clearance opening 38 (see Fig. 8).

It will be obvious, that a reversal of the above described operations will be utilized to swing tween the contact cams 2|, its extremity will abut the finger 25 of one of the latter which lies across its path of movement, whereupon continued inward movement of the contact blade 43 will positively rotate this contact cam so as to bring the cams into nipping engagement with said blade. Further inward movement of the contact blade, now frictionally engaged by the cams 2|, will cause the latter to rotate so to engage the blade withan exceedingly strong pressure under the urge of the stiff leaf spring means 22 which press the cams inwardly against the blade surfaces. It will be obvious that, owing to the exceedingly strong pressure thus exerted by the contact cams 2| upon the contact blade 43, the contact resistance between the cams and blade will be reduced to a minimum, an advantage much to be desired, especially when the switch is used in the control of high voltage lines.

I am aware that many changes could be made in the above described constructions, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the following claims. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An electric switch mechanism, comprising a stationary contact means and a movable contact means, said latter means including a switch arm having a contact blade at its free end and a butt member at its rear end, means to movably mount said switch arm including a pair of fixedly supported laterally spaced combined guide and fulcrum blocks, said blocks each having a longitudinal bearing chamber and a key-way parallel therewith, said key-way terminating at its rearward and in a clearance opening, said switch arm butt member being mounted between said blocks and having trunnion disks engaged in said bearing chambers and associated key members to slidingly engage said key-ways, thereby mounting said switch arm for controlled successive rectilinear and pivotal movements whereby its contact blade engages and disengages the stationary contact means during rectilinear movement phases, and means for actuating said switch arm. 2. In an electric switch mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein said blocks have stop means in association with the key member clearance openings thereof to limit rotative movement of the key members in said openings, thereby to limit the pivotal movement phase of said switch arm.

3. In electric mechanism, comprising a stationary contact means and a movable contact means, said latter means including a switch arm having a contact blade at its free end and a butt member at its rear end, means to movably mount said switch arm including a pair of fixedly supported laterally spaced combined guide and fulcrum blocks, said blocks each having a longitudinal bearing chamber and a key-way parallel therewith, said key-way terminating at its rearward end in a clearance opening, said switch arm butt member being mounted between said blocks and having trunnion disks engaged in said bearing chambers and associated key members to slidingly engage said key-ways, thereby mounting said switch arm for controlled successive rectilinear and pivotal movements whereby its contact blade engages and disengages the stationary contact means during rectilinear movement phases,

outer cover plates amxed to blocks to close the outer faces thereof, inner cover plates to slidingly engage said blocks to close theinner faces thereof, journal disks carried by said switch arm butt member to pivotally rotate the same to said inner cover plates v hile permitting the latter to accompany the rectilinear movement phases of said butt member, and means for actuating said switch arm.

4. In anelectric switch mechanism as defined in claim 3, wherein said stationary contact means includes a pair of spring pressed contact cams to engage said switch arm contact blade in the nip thereof with compressive force, and an enclosing protective casing for said stationary contact means, said casing having an opening to give said switch arm contact blade access to said contact cams thereof.

5. In an electric switch mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for actuating said switch arm comprises, an oscillatable lever arm, means to oscillate said lever arm, and a link rod having universal joint connections with said lever arm and with the free end portion of said switch arm butt member.

6. In an electric switch mechanism as defined in claim 3, wherein the means for actuating said switch arm comprises, an oscillatable lever arm,

means to oscillate said lever arm, and a link rod having universal joint connections with said lever arm and with the free end portion of said switch arm butt member.

'7. An electric switch mechanism, comprising a stationary contact means and a movable contact means, means to control the motion of said latter contact means to enact, in succession, axial and pivotal movements thereof, whereby the same engages and disengages the stationary contact means during axial movement phases, said stationary contact means including a pair of opposed contact cams rotatable about axes transverse to the path of axial movements of said movable contact means, therebyto receive the contact portion of the latter means therebetween, immovable notched bearing means to embrace the inner sides of the journals of said contact cams, movable notched bearing means to embrace the outer sides of said contact cam journals, flexible means to support said movable bearing means, and laminate spring leaves to exert strong inward thrust upon said movable bearing means thereby to urge said contact cams one toward the other so as to nip said contact portion of the movable contact means therebetween with strong compressive force.

ROBERT G. GOODYEAR. 

